In-vivo image acquiring apparatus, in-vivo image receiving apparatus, in-vivo image displaying apparatus, and noise eliminating method

ABSTRACT

An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus includes an operation control unit which controls a black image acquiring operation, in which the operation control unit controls an imaging unit and an illuminating unit in such a manner the imaging unit conducts an image acquiring operation in a state the illuminating unit does not conduct an illuminating operation. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus also includes an average calculating unit which calculates the average value of pixel value in a predetermined determining area, and a black image determining unit, which determines whether the image information acquired by the image acquiring operation is the black image by comparing the average value with a predetermined threshold value. The image information determined as the black image by the black image determining unit is transmitted, as the black image information, to an external apparatus by radio.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2008-055454, filed on Mar. 5, 2008, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an in-vivo image acquiring apparatuswhich is taken into the body of a subject (patient) and acquires in-vivoimage information, an in-vivo image receiving apparatus which receivesthe image information acquired with the in-vivo image acquiringapparatus, an in-vivo image displaying apparatus which displays theimage information acquired with the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus,and a noise eliminating method that eliminates fixed pattern noises inthe in-vivo image information of the subject.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, in the field of endoscope, a swallow-type capsuleendoscope has been proposed. Such capsule endoscope is provided with, ina capsule-shaped case, an imaging unit which acquires in-vivo imageinformation, an illuminating unit which illuminates the imaging regionsof which images are taken with the imaging unit, and a transmitting unitwhich transmits the image information acquired with the imaging unit byradio. The capsule endoscope is swallowed from the mouth of the patientwho is the subject and taken into the body of the subject. The capsuleendoscope travels inside the body cavity in accordance with itsperistaltic motion, takes images inside the body cavity sequentially,and transmits the acquired image information to the outside the body byradio until the endoscope is naturally excreted from the body.

Image sensors including CMOS and CCD are used for taking in-vivo images.Such image sensors generate fixed pattern noises due to fluctuation ofoutput characteristics among each of the pixels and the like.Especially, CMOS image sensor is more likely to generate the fixedpattern noises than CCD does. For a process to eliminate the fixedpattern noises, for a digital camera and the like which are providedwith a shutter mechanism, the following process is known. Specifically,as a first step, a black image that includes the fixed pattern noises isacquired by conducting exposure in a state the shutter is closed; thenas a second step, the fixed pattern noises are subtracted from the imageof the photographic subject which was actually taken. Meanwhile, in thecase of the capsule endoscope, as the shutter mechanism is not providedwith, the following structure is known, in which the fixed patternnoises are detected by acquiring the black image with the imaging unitin a non-illuminating state by the illuminating unit. (Japanese patentApplication Laid-Open No. 2006-20778).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus according to an aspect of thepresent invention is to be taken into a body of a subject, and includesan imaging unit that acquires in-vivo image information; an illuminatingunit that illuminates imaging regions of which images are taken by theimaging unit; a radio transmitting unit that transmits the imageinformation acquired by the imaging unit to an external apparatus byradio; an operation control unit that controls operations of the imagingunit and the illuminating unit so as to control a black image acquiringoperation in which the imaging unit conducts an imaging operation withthe illuminating unit not conducting an illuminating operation; anaverage value calculating unit that calculates an average value of pixelvalues of a predetermined determining area among the image informationacquired by the black image acquiring operation; and a black imagedetermining unit that determines whether the image information acquiredby the black image acquiring operation indicates a black image bycomparing the average value calculated by the average value calculatingunit with a predetermined threshold value. The radio transmitting unittransmits to the external apparatus by radio the image information whichis determined by the black image determining unit as the black image, asblack image information.

An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus according to another aspect of thepresent invention is to be taken into a body of a subject, and includesan imaging unit that acquires in-vivo image information; an illuminatingunit that illuminates imaging regions of which images are taken by theimaging unit; a radio transmitting unit that transmits the imageinformation acquired by the imaging unit to an external apparatus byradio; an operation control unit that controls operations of the imagingunit and the illuminating unit so as to control a black image acquiringoperation in which the imaging unit conducts an imaging operation withthe illuminating unit not conducting an illuminating operation; a peakdetector that detects a peak value of pixel values of pixels thatconstitute a predetermined determining area among the image informationacquired by the black image acquiring operation; and a black imagedetermining unit that determines whether the image information acquiredby the black image acquiring operation indicates a black image bycomparing the peak value detected by the peak detector with apredetermined threshold value. The radio transmitting unit transmits tothe external apparatus by radio the image information which isdetermined by the black image determining unit as the black image, asblack image information.

An in-vivo image receiving apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention is for receiving in-vivo image information froman in-vivo image acquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of asubject and which acquires the in-vivo image information in anilluminating state or in a non-illuminating state. The in-vivo imagereceiving apparatus includes an average value calculating unit thatcalculates an average value of pixel values of a predetermineddetermining area among the image information acquired in thenon-illuminating state by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus; a blackimage determining unit that determines whether the image informationacquired in the non-illuminating state by the in-vivo image acquiringapparatus indicates a black image by comparing the average valuecalculated by the average value calculating unit with a predeterminedthreshold value; a black image storage unit that stores as black imageinformation the image information determined as the black image by theblack image determining unit; and a black image compensating unit that,based on the black image information stored in the black image storageunit, eliminates fixed pattern noises in the image information acquiredin the illuminating state by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus, andcompensates the image information.

An in-vivo image receiving apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention is for receiving in-vivo image information froman in-vivo image acquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of asubject and which acquires the in-vivo image information in anilluminating state or in a non-illuminating state. The in-vivo imagereceiving apparatus includes a peak detector detects a peak value ofpixel values of pixels that constitute a predetermined determining areaamong the image information acquired in the non-illuminating state ofthe in-vivo image acquiring apparatus; a black image determining unitconfigured to determine whether the image information acquired in anon-illuminating state is the black image by comparing the peak valuedetected by the peak detector with a predetermined threshold value; ablack image storage unit stores as black image information the imageinformation determined as the black image by the black image determiningunit; and an image compensating unit, based on the black imageinformation stored in the black image storage unit, eliminates fixedpattern noises in the image information acquired in the illuminatingstate by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus, and compensates theimage information.

An in-vivo image displaying apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention is for displaying image information acquired byan in-vivo image acquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of asubject and acquires in-vivo image information in an illuminating stateor in a non-illuminating state. The in-vivo image displaying apparatusincludes a black image pixel value averaging unit that calculates anaverage value of pixel values of a predetermined determining area amongthe image information acquired in a non-illuminating state by thein-vivo image acquiring apparatus; a black image determining unit thatdetermines whether the image information acquired in thenon-illuminating state indicates a black image by comparing the averagevalue calculated by the black image pixel value averaging unit with apredetermined threshold value; a black image storage unit that stores asblack image information the image information determined as the blackimage by the black image determining unit; and an image compensatingunit that, based on the black image information stored in the blackimage storage unit, eliminates fixed pattern noises in the imageinformation acquired in the illuminating state by the in-vivo imageacquiring apparatus, and compensates the image information.

An in-vivo image displaying apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention is for displaying image information acquired byan in-vivo image acquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of asubject and acquires in-vivo image information in an illuminating stateor in a non-illuminating state. The in-vivo image displaying apparatusincludes a peak detector that detects a peak value of pixel values ofpixels that constitute a predetermined determining area among the imageinformation acquired by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus in anon-illuminating state; a black image determining unit that determineswhether the image information acquired in the non-illuminating stateindicates a black image by comparing the peak value detected by the peakdetector with a predetermined threshold value; a black image storageunit that stores as black image information the image informationdetermined as the black image by the black image determining unit; and ablack image compensating unit that, based on the black image informationstored in the black image storage unit, eliminates fixed pattern noisesin the image information acquired in the illuminating state with thein-vivo image acquiring apparatus, and compensates the imageinformation.

A noise eliminating method according to still another aspect of thepresent invention is for eliminating fixed pattern noises in in-vivoimage information. The method includes acquiring the in-vivo imageinformation in a non-illuminating state; calculating an average value ofa predetermined determining area among the image information acquired inthe non-illuminating state; determining whether the image informationacquired in the non-illuminating state indicates a black image bycomparing the calculated average value with a predetermined thresholdvalue; acquiring the in-vivo image information in an illuminating state;and eliminating the fixed pattern noises in the image informationacquired in the illuminating state and compensating the imageinformation based on the image information determined as the blackimage.

A noise eliminating method according to still another aspect of thepresent invention is for eliminating fixed pattern noises in in-vivoimage information. The method includes acquiring the in-vivo imageinformation in a non-illuminating state; detecting a peak value of pixelvalues of pixels that constitute a predetermined determining area amongthe image information acquired in a non-illuminating sate; determiningwhether the image information acquired in the non-illuminating stateindicates a black image by comparing the detected peak value with apredetermined threshold value; acquiring the in-vivo image informationin an illuminating state; and eliminating the fixed pattern noises inthe image information acquired in the illuminating state andcompensating the image information based on the image informationdetermined as the black image.

The above and other features, advantages and technical and industrialsignificance of this invention will be better understood by reading thefollowing detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall configuration of an in-vivoimage acquiring system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a capsule endoscope according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an example of transmitting signal generated by thetransmission signal generator according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining timings of the in-vivoimage information acquiring operation and black image acquiringoperation according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the capsule endoscope accordingto an exemplary variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a capsule endoscope according toa second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic internal view a capsule endoscope according to athird embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a receiving apparatus accordingto the third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a receiving apparatus accordingto a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a displaying apparatusaccording to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the displayingapparatus according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a displaying apparatusaccording to a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary variation of timings of the in-vivo imageinformation acquiring operation and black image acquiring operation;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the capsuleendoscope according to an exemplary variation;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a cap which detachably covers the capsuleendoscope according to an exemplary variation;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the caps when the caps are attached tothe capsule endoscope; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the capsuleendoscope according to an exemplary variation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention will beexplained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall configuration of an in-vivoimage acquiring system according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the in-vivo image acquiring systemincludes a capsule endoscope 10, a receiving apparatus 30, and adisplaying apparatus 70. The capsule endoscope 10 is an in-vivo imageacquiring apparatus which acquires in-vivo image information (in-vivoimage information) of the subject 1. The receiving apparatus 30 is anin-vivo image receiving apparatus which receives the image informationtransmitted from the capsule endoscope 10 by radio. The displayingapparatus 70 is an in-vivo image displaying apparatus which displays theimage information acquired by the capsule endoscope 10, based on theimage information received by the receiving apparatus 30. Fortransferring the image information between the receiving apparatus 30and the displaying apparatus 70, for example, a portable recordingmedium 50 may be used.

The capsule endoscope 10 is provided with an imaging function and aradio communication function. The capsule endoscope 10 is swallowed fromthe mouth of the subject 1 and taken into the body of the subject 1, andsequentially acquires inside the body cavity image information bytravelling inside the body cavity, and transmits the acquired imageinformation to outside the body via the radio communication.

The receiving apparatus 30 includes a plurality of receiving antennas A1to An, the receiving apparatus 30 receives the image information that istransmitted from the capsule endoscope 10 via each of the receivingantennas A1 to An by radio. The receiving apparatus 30 is configured tobe detachably attached by the portable recording medium 50 such asCompactFlash (registered trademark) and the like, and the receivingapparatus 30 sequentially stores the received image information in theportable recording medium 50. The receiving apparatus 30 accumulates thein-vivo image information of the subject 1 in chronological order in theportable recording medium 50.

The receiving antennas A1 to An are, for example, constituted by loopantennas as illustrated in FIG. 1, and are dispersedly arranged on thepredetermined positions on the surface of the subject 1. Specifically,the receiving antennas A1 to An are dispersedly arranged on positionswhich correspond to the route the capsule endoscope 10 travels insidethe subject 1. The receiving antennas A1 to An may be dispersedlyarranged on a jacket to be worn by the subject 1. In such a case, thereceiving antennas A1 to An are arranged on predetermined positionswhich correspond to the route the capsule endoscope 10 travels insidethe subject 1 as the subject 1 wears the jacket. At least one receivingantenna may be arranged on one subject 1; the numbers of the antennasare not limited.

The displaying apparatus 70 is realized by the general-purpose computerssuch as a workstation or personal computer, and is configured in such amanner that the portable recording medium 50 is detachably attached tothe displaying apparatus 70. The displaying apparatus 70 reads in theimage information stored in the portable recording medium 50, anddisplays the read image information, as images, on displays such as LCDand ELD. Moreover, the displaying apparatus 70 arbitrarily writes theinformation concerning the subject 1 on the portable recording medium50. The displaying apparatus 70 may be structured to output the image toother media with printers and the like.

The configuration of the capsule endoscope 10 according to the firstembodiment will be explained next. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagramof the capsule endoscope 10. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the capsuleendoscope 10 includes an imaging unit 110, an illuminating unit 120, asignal processing unit 130, a transmitting unit 150, a control unit 160,and a power source 170 which supplies the power to each of the unitsthat constitutes the capsule endoscope 10.

The imaging unit 110 includes the image sensor such as CMOS or CCD, andan imaging lens which makes the incident light form an image on theimage pickup device. The imaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operationwhich takes the in-vivo images of the subject 1 by outputting an analogsignal in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.Specifically, the imaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operation insupply timing of the imaging unit driving pulse from a timing generator161 which will be described later.

The illuminating unit 120 includes, for example, a light-emitting devicesuch as an LED and a driving circuit of the light-emitting device, andconducts the illuminating operation that illuminates the imaging regionsof which images are taken by the imaging unit 110. Specifically, theilluminating unit 120 starts the illuminating operation in supply timingof the illuminating unit driving pulse from a timing generator. Then theilluminating unit 120 emits an amount of illuminating light which isadjusted by a dimmer controller 163 (explained later) by illuminatingthe imaging regions for a time equivalent to the pulse width of thesupplied illuminating unit driving pulse.

The signal processing unit 130 includes an analog signal processing unit131, an A/D converter 133, and a transmitting signal generator 135, andgenerates transmitting signals by giving necessary processes to theimages taken by the imaging unit 110. The analog signal processing unit131 conducts analog signal processes such as the correlated doublesampling or amplification to the analog signals input from the imagingunit 110. The A/D converter 133 converts the analog signals, input fromthe analog signal processing unit 131, into the digital signals. Theconverted digital signals are output to the transmitting signalgenerator 135, a black image pixel value averaging unit 137 which willbe described later, and the dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143.

The transmitting signal generator 135 generates transmitting signals fortransmitting, by radio, the acquired image information to outside thebody based on the digital signals input from the A/D converter 133. Forexample, the transmitting signal generator 135 regards a sheet of imageinformation as one frame, and adds the vertical synchronization signalin the front of the frame, and generates the transmitting signals byadding the horizontal synchronization signal in the front of theconstituent data of each line, and outputs the transmitting signals tothe transmitting unit 150.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the transmitting signal generated bythe transmitting signal generator 135. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thetransmitting signals are constituted as the vertical synchronizationsignal, the field that indicates the image identifying information andthe added information, and the image signals that correspond to theconstituent data of each line that includes the horizontalsynchronization signal are distributed. The image identifyinginformation is information that is added when the image identifyinginformation is input from the information adding unit 141 which will bedescribed later. The image identifying information is acquired by ablack image acquiring operation which will be described later, and usedfor identifying the image information that is determined as the blackimage by a black image determining unit 139 which will be describedlater. Such information, for example, as the model name, serial number,and the white balance coefficient of the capsule endoscope 10 arearbitrarily set as the added information. The transmitting signals areinput to the transmitting unit 150 and transmitted to the receivingapparatus 30 located at the outside of the body by radio. The receivingapparatus 30, which has received the transmitting signals, detects thefront part of the image with the vertical synchronization signal,processes each of the image signals by detecting the front of the imagesignal of each line based on the horizontal synchronization signals, andacquires the image information.

The signal processing unit 130 includes the black image pixel valueaveraging unit 137, the black image determining unit 139, and aninformation adding unit 141, and determines whether the imageinformation acquired by the black image acquiring operation is the blackimage or not.

The black image pixel value averaging unit 137 regards, the whole areathat is acquired by the black image acquiring operation, as thedetermining area, and calculates the average value of the pixel value ofthe image information. For example, the black image pixel valueaveraging unit 137 calculates the simple average value by integratingthe pixel value of each pixel that constitutes the image information,and dividing the result of the integration by the number of pixels. Thecalculated average value is output to the black image determining unit139.

The black image determining unit 139 compares the average value inputfrom the black image pixel value averaging unit 137 with a black imagestandard value that is predetermined as the threshold value, as a resultof the comparison, if the input average value is equal to the blackimage standard value or less, the black image determining unit 139determines the image information is the black image. Close to black andsmall enough value is set as the black image standard value. The resultof the determination is output to the information adding unit 141.

The information adding unit 141 generates the image identifyinginformation that corresponds to the result of the determination inputfrom the black image determining unit 139. The image identifyinginformation is generated as, for example, flag information thatindicates whether it is the black image or not, and is output to thetransmitting signal generator 135. Consequently, if the imageinformation is determined as the black image by the black imagedetermining unit 139, the information indicating the image informationis the black image is added to the transmitting signals that aregenerated with the transmitting signal generator 135.

The signal processing unit 130 is provided with the dimming area pixelvalue averaging unit 143, and outputs the calculated average value tothe dimmer controller 163 (explained later). Specifically, a targetdimming area is predetermined; the dimming area pixel value averagingunit 143 calculates the average value of the pixel value that isincluded in the dimming area among the in-vivo image informationacquired by the in-vivo image acquiring operation (explained later). Forexample, the dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 calculates theweighted average value of the RGB value of each pixel that constitutesthe dimming area and obtains the average luminance of the dimming area.

The transmitting unit 150 includes: a transmitting circuit thatgenerates radio signals by conducting, as needed, modulation processingand the like toward the transmitting signals input from the signalprocessing unit 130; and an antenna for transmitting the generated radiosignals to the outside, and transmits the transmitting signals to theoutside by radio.

The control unit 160 controls each of the units that constitutes thecapsule endoscope 10, and controls the overall operations of the capsuleendoscope 10 as a whole. The control unit 160 includes the timinggenerator 161 and the dimmer controller 163.

The timing generator 161 generates the drive timings for the imagingunit 110 and illuminating unit 120. The timing generator 161 controlsthe in-vivo image acquiring operation in which the imaging unit 110conducts the imaging operation in the state the illuminating unit 120 isconducting the illuminating operation (illuminating state).Alternatively, the timing generator 161 controls the in-vivo imageacquiring operation in which the imaging unit 110 conducts the imagingoperation in the state the illuminating unit 120 is not conducting theilluminating operation (non-illuminating state).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining timings of the in-vivoimage information acquiring operation and black image acquiringoperation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the imaging operations by theimaging unit 110 are conducted at a predetermined time interval, forexample at 0.5 second interval, among this, the imaging operations inthe non-illuminating state (black image acquiring operation) areconducted, for example every 10 minutes, and then the image informationis acquired. Whether the acquired image information is black image ornot is determined by the black image determining unit 139. Meanwhile, inother timings than the black image acquiring operation, the imagingoperations are conducted in the illuminating state (in-vivo imageacquiring operation), and the in-vivo image information is acquired.

Specifically, the timing generator 161 conducts the following controls.More specifically, the timing generator 161 controls the imagingoperation of the imaging unit 110 by supplying the imaging unit drivingpulse to the imaging unit 110 at an interval of 0.5 second. In thetiming of the in-vivo image acquiring operation, the timing generator161 controls the illuminating operation of the illuminating unit 120 bysupplying the illuminating unit driving pulse to the illuminating unit120 immediately before supplying the imaging start pulse. At the sametime, the timing generator 161 increases or decreases the pulse width ofthe illuminating unit driving pulse in accordance with the illuminatingtime input from the dimmer controller 163 (explained later), and thetiming generator 161 specifies the operation start timing by the risingedge of the pulse, and specifies the operation end timing by thetrailing edge of the pulse.

The timing generator 161 synchronizes the processing of each unit withthe supplying timing of the imaging unit driving pulse by driving eachunit that constitute the signal processing unit 130 based on thesupplying timing of the imaging unit driving pulse.

The dimmer controller 163 conducts the dimmer control to adjust theamount of luminescence of the illuminating light that is emitted by theilluminating unit 120. Specifically, the dimmer controller 163 comparesthe average value input from the dimming area pixel value averaging unit143 with the standard luminance value predetermined as the thresholdvalue, and then determines the brightness of the dimming area in thein-vivo image information acquired by the in-vivo image acquiringoperation. The luminance value in which the contents of the image areeasily visible for the user is set as the standard luminance value. Theilluminating time of the illuminating unit 120 is calculated based onthe result of the comparison, and the calculated illuminating time isoutput to the timing generator 161. The quality level of the acquiredin-vivo image is kept constant by adjusting the amount of luminescenceof the illuminating light in the in-vivo image acquiring operation forthe next time based on the brightness of the dimming area in the in-vivoimage information acquired this time. For example, if the brightness ofthe dimming area in the in-vivo image information acquired this time istoo bright, the illuminating time with the illuminating unit 120 for thenext time will be set shortened, on the other hand, if brightness is toodark the illuminating time with the illuminating unit 120 for the nexttime will be set extended. The method of adjusting the amount ofluminescence of the illuminating light is not limited to adjusting theilluminating time; for example, the amount of luminescence may beadjusted by adjusting the electric current value supplied to lightemitting devices that constitute the illuminating unit 120. The amountof luminescence may be adjusted by changing the luminance of the lightemitting devices.

As explained above, the capsule endoscope 10 according to the firstembodiment, the imaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operation at apredetermined time interval in accordance with the control by the timinggenerator 161. However, in the timing of black image acquiringoperation, the imaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operation in thestate that the illuminating unit 120 does not conduct the illuminatingoperation, and then acquires the in-vivo image information of thesubject 1 that is taken in the non-illuminating state. While the signalprocessing unit 130 generates the transmitting signals based on theimage information acquired through the black image acquiring operation,the black image pixel value averaging unit 137 calculates the averagevalue of the pixel value of the acquired image information. The blackimage determining unit 139 determines whether the image information isthe black image or not, the information adding unit 141 generates theimage identifying information that corresponds to the result of thedetermination and adds the image identifying information to thetransmitting signals generated by transmitting signal generator 135. Thetransmitting unit 150 transmits the generated transmitting signals tooutside the body by radio.

Meanwhile, in the timing of the in-vivo image acquiring operation, theimaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operation in the state theilluminating unit 120 is conducting the illuminating operation, acquiresthe in-vivo image information by imaging inside the body of the subject1 in the illuminating state. The signal processing unit 130 generatesthe transmitting signals based on the in-vivo image information acquiredthrough the in-vivo image acquiring operation, and the transmitting unit150 transmits the transmitting signals to outside the body by radio. Thedimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 calculates the averageluminance value of the predetermined dimming area among the acquiredin-vivo image information. The dimmer controller 163 determines thebrightness of the dimming area, and decides the illuminating time by theilluminating unit 120 for the next time based on the determinedbrightness.

The image information wirelessly transmitted by the capsule endoscope 10is received by the receiving apparatus 30. In the receiving apparatus30, if the received image information is the black image, the imageinformation is stored as the black image information in an embeddedmemory such as RAM. Meanwhile, if the received image information is thein-vivo image information, the in-vivo image information is sequentiallystored in the portable recording medium 50, however, as a preprocessingof storage, the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image informationare eliminated based on the black image information stored in theembedded memory, and the image compensation is conducted. Specifically,the fixed pattern noises contained in the in-vivo image information areeliminated by subtracting the black image information from the in-vivoimage information. The in-vivo image information stored in the portablerecording medium 50 at the receiving apparatus 30 is displayed as theimage on the displaying apparatus 70. If the receiving apparatus 30receives new black image information from the capsule endoscope 10, thereceiving apparatus 30 rewrites the black image information stored inthe embedded memory with the new black image information.

According to the first embodiment explained above, the capsule endoscope10 is capable of determining whether the image information is the blackimage or not by calculating the average value of the pixel value of theimage information acquired in the non-illuminating state. The capsuleendoscope 10 is capable of transmitting the image information by radio,as the black image, to the receiving apparatus 30 of outside the body byadding the image identifying information that indicates the imageinformation is the black image. Therefore, the capsule endoscope 10 iscapable of securely acquiring the black image which is necessary foreliminating the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information.Consequently, the receiving apparatus 30 can eliminate the fixed patternnoises in the in-vivo image information acquired in the illuminatingstate, and store the in-vivo image information in the portable recordingmedium 50 after conducting appropriate image compensation to the in-vivoimage information. The black image acquiring image acquiring operationis conducted at a predetermined time interval and the black images areacquired in many positions in the body. Since the fixed pattern noisesare influenced by environments such as temperature, it is possible toconduct more appropriate image compensation by acquiring the black imagein many positions in the body as explained above.

In the first embodiment, although it is explained that the receivingapparatus 30 conducts the process concerning the fixed patternelimination, the displaying apparatus 70 may conduct the processconcerning the fixed pattern elimination instead of the receivingapparatus 30. In this case, the receiving apparatus 30 stores the imageinformation, which is received together with the image identifyinginformation and the added information, in the portable recording medium50 sequentially in order of receipt. The displaying apparatus 70sequentially reads out the image information stored in the portablerecording medium 50, if the read out information is the black image, thedisplaying apparatus 70 stores the black image as the black imageinformation in the embedded memory such as RAM. On the other hand, ifthe read out information is the in-vivo image information, thedisplaying apparatus 70 displays the in-vivo image information asimages, however as a preprocessing of the image display, the displayingapparatus 70 eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo imageinformation based on the black image information stored in the embeddedmemory, and conducts the image compensation. If the displaying apparatus70 reads out the image information of the black image anew, thedisplaying apparatus 70 rewrites the black image information stored inthe embedded memory with the new black image information. According toan exemplary variation of the present embodiment, the displayingapparatus 70 can appropriately eliminate the fixed pattern noises in thein-vivo image information acquired in the illuminating state, anddisplay the image after conducting appropriate image compensation towardthe in-vivo image information.

In the first embodiment, the average value of the pixel value iscalculated on the assumption that the whole area of the imageinformation acquired by the black image acquiring operation is thedetermining area. Alternatively, it is possible to determine whether theimage information is the black image or not, by calculating the averagevalue of the pixel value that is included in the dimming area, on theassumption that the dimming area, which is regarded as the target forcalculating the average value by the dimming area pixel value averagingunit 143, is the determining area. In this case, it is possible todetermine whether the image information acquired using the average valuecalculated by the dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 is theblack image or not. In this case it is possible to simplify thestructure of the capsule endoscope 10 because the black image pixelvalue averaging unit 137 is not needed. FIG. 5 is the functional blockdiagram of the capsule endoscope 10 b in this case. The same referentialmarks are put to the similar parts as the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the capsule endoscope 10 b according to theexemplary variation is provided with a signal processing unit 130 b. Thesignal processing unit 130 b includes, an analog signal processing unit131, an A/D converter 133 b, a transmitting signal generator 135, ablack image determining unit 139 b, an information adding unit 141, anda dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 b. In the signalprocessing unit 130 b, the analog signals output from the imaging unit110 is analog signal processed with the analog signal processing unit131, and converted into digital signals with the A/D converter 133 b.The converted digital signals are output to the transmitting signalgenerator 135 and dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 b. Thetransmitting signals for transmitting to outside the body by radio aregenerated in the transmitting signal generator 135; the acquired imageinformation is transmitted to the receiving apparatus 30 by radio withthe transmitting unit 150.

The dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 b, in a similar way asthe first embodiment, calculates the weighted average value of the RGBvalue of each pixel that constitutes the predetermined dimming area andobtains the average luminance of the dimming area. However, according tothe present exemplary variation, the average value calculated based onthe in-vivo image information acquired by the in-vivo image acquiringoperation is output to the dimmer controller 163, and the average valuecalculated based on the image information acquired by the black imageacquiring operation is output to the black image determining unit 139 b.

The black image determining unit 139 b compares the average value inputfrom the dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 b with the blackimage standard luminance value predetermined as the threshold value, asa result of the comparison, if the average value input is equal to theblack image standard luminance value or less, the image information isdetermined as the black image. A dark enough value is set as the blackimage standard luminance value. The result of the determination isoutput to the information adding unit 141.

According to the present exemplary variation, it is possible todetermine whether the image information taken in the non-illuminatingstate is the black image or not by using the output value of the dimmingarea pixel value averaging unit 143 b which is provided to the capsuleendoscope 10 b for controlling the adjustment of the amount ofilluminating light that is emitted from the illuminating unit 120.

A second embodiment will be explained next. FIG. 6 is a functional blockdiagram for explaining the capsule endoscope 10 c according to thesecond embodiment. The same referential marks are put to the similarconfiguration as the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the capsule endoscope 10 c according to thesecond embodiment is provided with a signal processing unit 130 c. Thesignal processing unit 130 c includes, an analog signal processing unit131, an A/D converter 133, a pixel defect compensating unit 145, atransmitting signal generator 135 c, a peak detector 147, a black imagedetermining unit 139 c, an information adding unit 141, and a dimmingarea pixel value averaging unit 143 c. In the signal processing unit 130c, the analog signals input from the imaging unit 110 is analog signalprocessed with the analog signal processing unit 131, and converted intodigital signals with the A/D converter 133. The converted digitalsignals are output to the pixel defect compensating unit 145.

The pixel defect compensating unit 145 detects the pixel defects in theacquired image information based on the digital signals input from theA/D converter 133, and compensates the pixels having pixel defects. Thepixel defects, in this case, are attributed to the crystal quality ofthe image sensor that constitutes the imaging unit 110. Specifically,for example, the pixel defects are attributed to deterioration with timeof the crystal itself, and effect of the environmental change, and thepixel defects are appear as white dots or black dots on the image. Thepixel defect compensating unit 145 compares the pixel value of eachpixel (a first pixel) with the pixel value of the pixel (a second pixel)having the same color, which is horizontally adjacent to the firstpixel. If the difference between the first and second pixel value is thesame as the predetermined threshold value or over, the pixel defectcompensating unit 145 detects the first pixel as defective. The pixeldefect compensating unit 145 compensates the pixel defects of the firstpixel by replacing the pixel value of the first pixel with a value thatcorresponds to the pixel value of the second pixel. Alternatively, thepixel defect compensating unit 145 detects the pixel defects of thefirst pixel by comparing the pixel value of the first pixel with thepixel value of the pixel (a third pixel) having the same color and isvertically adjacent to the first pixel. The pixel defect compensatingunit 145 compensates the pixel defects of the first pixel by replacingthe pixel value of the first pixel with a value that corresponds to thepixel value of the third pixel. The compensated image information isoutput to the transmitting signal generator 135 c, the peak detector147, and the dimming area pixel value averaging unit 143 c.

The transmitting signal generator 135 c generates the transmittingsignals for transmitting the image information, of which pixel defectsare compensated with the pixel defect compensating unit 145, to outsidethe body by radio. Moreover, if the image identifying information isinput from the information adding unit 141, the transmitting signalgenerator 135 c adds the image identifying information to the generatedtransmitting signals. The generated transmitting signals are transmittedto outside the body with the transmitting unit 150 by radio, and theacquired image information is transmitted to the receiving apparatus 30by radio.

The peak detector 147 regards the whole area of the image informationacquired by the black image acquiring operation as the determining area,and detects the peak value of the pixel value of each pixel, whichconstitutes the image information. The detected peak value is output tothe black image determining unit 139 c.

The black image determining unit 139 c compares the peak value inputfrom the peak detector 147 with a black image standard peak value whichis predetermined as threshold value, and as a result of the comparison,if the input peak value is equal to the black image standard peak valueor less, the black image determining unit 139 c determines the imageinformation is the black image. Close to black and small enough value isset as the black image standard value. The result of the determinationis output to the information adding unit 141.

According to the capsule endoscope 10 c structured as mentioned above,the imaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operation at a predeterminedtime interval in accordance with the control by the timing generator 161in a similar manner as the first embodiment. In the timing of the blackimage acquiring operation, the imaging unit 110 conducts the imagingoperation in the state that the illuminating unit 120 does not conductthe illuminating operation, and then acquires the in-vivo imageinformation of the subject 1 taken in the non-illuminating state. Whilethe signal processing unit 130 c compensates the pixel defects of theimage information taken by the black image acquiring operation, andgenerates the transmitting signals based on the compensated imageinformation, the peak detector 147 calculates the peak value of thepixel value of each pixel which constitutes the acquired imageinformation. Then the black image determining unit 139 c determineswhether the image information is the black image or not, the informationadding unit 141 generates the image identifying information, whichcorresponds to the result of the determination by the black imagedetermining unit 139 c, adds the identifying information to thetransmitting signals that are generated with the transmitting signalgenerator 135 c. The transmitting unit 150 transmits the generatedtransmitting signals to outside the body by radio.

Meanwhile, in the timing of the in-vivo image acquiring operation, theimaging unit 110 conducts the imaging operation in the state theilluminating unit 120 is conducting the illuminating operation, acquiresthe in-vivo image information by imaging inside the body of the subject1 in the illuminating state. The signal processing unit 130 ccompensates the pixel defects of the in-vivo image information acquiredthrough the in-vivo image acquiring operation, and generates thetransmitting signals based on the compensated in-vivo image information.The transmitting unit 150 transmits the generated transmitting signalsto outside the body by radio.

According to the second embodiment as explained above, the capsuleendoscope 10 c can determine whether the image information is the blackimage or not by detecting the peak value of the pixel value of eachpixel that constitutes the image information. The capsule endoscope 10 ccan transmit, by radio, the image information to the receiving apparatus30 of outside the body as the black image, by adding the imageidentifying information which indicates the image information is theblack image, to the image information determined as the black image.Therefore the capsule endoscope 10 c can securely acquire the blackimage which is necessary for eliminating the fixed pattern noises in thein-vivo image information. As a result, the capsule endoscope 10 c can,in the receiving apparatus 30 or displaying apparatus 70, appropriatelyeliminate the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image informationwhich is taken in the illuminating state, and can conduct appropriateimage compensation toward the in-vivo image information.

Although in the aforementioned first and second embodiments, the capsuleendoscopes each having a single imaging unit was explained, theembodiments also can be applied to the capsule endoscopes having aplurality of imaging units. In this case, the capsule endoscope adds theinformation, which identifies the imaging unit that has acquired thecorresponding image information, to the transmitting signals fortransmitting the acquired image information to the receiving apparatus30, and then transmits the transmitting signals to the receivingapparatus 30 by radio. In the meantime, for example, the receivingapparatus 30, based on the received transmitting signals, identifies theimaging unit that has acquired the corresponding image information. Thereceiving apparatus 30 stores the image information in the embeddedmemory classifying the image information based on the imaging unit thathas acquired the image information. After then, in the case thereceiving apparatus 30 receives the image information; the receivingapparatus 30 firstly identifies the imaging unit that has acquired thein-vivo image information. The receiving apparatus 30 eliminates thefixed pattern noise in the in-vivo image information based on the blackimage acquired with the identified imaging unit, and conducts the imagecompensation.

In the aforementioned first and second embodiments, the capsuleendoscope is configured to transmit the image information, acquired bythe black image acquiring operation, to the receiving apparatus 30, byadding the image identifying information based on the determinationwhether the image information is the black image or not. Meanwhile, thecapsule endoscope may be configured to transmit exclusively the imageinformation that is determined to be the black image, without sendingthe image information that is determined not to be the black image. Bythis, it is possible to reduce the electricity consumption of thecapsule endoscope.

In the aforementioned first and second embodiments, the capsuleendoscope is configured to transmit the image identifying information,which is generated for identifying the image information that isdetermined as the black image, together with the image information tothe receiving apparatus 30. Alternatively, the capsule endoscope may beconfigured to predetermined the patterns for the in-vivo image and forthe black image as the vertical synchronization signals, and to identifythe corresponding image information based on the patterns of thevertical synchronization signals. In this case, the capsule endoscopetransmits the transmitting signals that are set with the verticalsynchronization signals for the in-vivo image if the image informationto be transmitted is the in-vivo image information, or transmits thetransmitting signals that are set with the vertical synchronizationsignals for the black image if the image information to be transmittedis determined to be the black image information. In the meantime, thereceiving apparatus 30 determines the patterns of the verticalsynchronization signals of the received image signals, and distinguisheswhether the image information is the in-vivo image information or theblack image.

A third embodiment will be explained next. The third embodiment is anembodiment in which processes related to the black image determinationand fixed pattern noise elimination, which are explained in the firstembodiment, are conducted with the receiving apparatus.

First, the configuration of the capsule endoscope according to the thirdembodiment will be explained. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the capsuleendoscope 10e according to the third embodiment. The same referentialmarks are put to the similar configuration as the first embodiment. Thecapsule endoscope 10 e of the present embodiment is provided with theimaging unit and illuminating unit at both ends of the capsule endoscope10 e. The capsule endoscope 10 e is capable of acquiring the in-vivoimage information of both the front and rear with respect to thetravelling direction of the capsule endoscope 10 e. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 7 the capsule endoscope 10 e includes, in acapsule-shaped case 11, imaging units 110-1, 110-2, illuminating units120-1, 120-2, a transmitting unit 150, a control unit 160, and a powersource 170. Hereinafter the imaging unit 110-1 will be described as thefront imaging unit, and the imaging unit 110-2 will be described as therear imaging unit. The illuminating unit 120-1 will be described as thefront illuminating unit, and the illuminating unit 120-2 will bedescribed as the rear illuminating unit

The case 11 is swallowable by human in size, and is formed as thesubstantially semispherical top covers 13-1, and 13-2, and a cylindricalbody cover 15 are combined together. The top covers 13-1 and 13-2 aremade of a transparent material and function as optical windows.Specifically, in inside the case 11, the front imaging unit 110-1 andthe front illuminating unit 120-1 are disposed facing the top cover13-1. The top cover 13-1 transmits the illumination light emitted fromthe front illuminating unit 120-1 to outside the case 11, and guides thereflected light into inside the case 11. In the same manner, in insidethe case 11, the rear imaging unit 110-2 and the rear illuminating unit120-2 are disposed facing the top cover 13-2. The rear cover 13-2transmits the illumination light emitted from the rear illuminating unit120-2 to outside case, and guides the reflected light into inside thecase 11.

In the capsule endoscope 10 e, a transmitting signal generator (notillustrated) generates transmitting signals for transmitting theacquired image information to outside the body by radio. The capsuleendoscope 10 e adds the imaging unit identifying information to theacquired image information. The imaging unit identifying information isto identify the imaging unit in which the imaging operation isconducted. Furthermore, the transmitting signal generator generates thetransmitting signals to which illuminating state identifying informationand adding information are added. The illuminating state identifyinginformation and adding information indicate whether the imageinformation is the in-vivo image information acquired in theilluminating state or the black image information acquired in thenon-illuminating state. The generated transmitting signals aretransmitted to the receiving unit 30 e of outside the body with thetransmitting unit 150.

The structure of the receiving apparatus according to the thirdembodiment will be explained next. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagramof the receiving apparatus 30 e according to the third embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the receiving apparatus 30 e includes, areceiving unit 310, a synchronization detector 320, an identifyinginformation detector 330, an image extractor 340, a black image pixelaveraging unit 350, a black image determining unit 360, a black imagecompensating unit 380, a signal processing unit 390, a read/write unit400, and a control unit 410 that controls each of the units thatconstitutes the receiving apparatus 30 e, and controls the overalloperations of the receiving apparatus 30 e as a whole.

The receiving unit 310 includes receiving antennas A1 to An, an antennaswitching unit 311, an intensity detector 313, an antenna switchingcontroller 315, and a demodulator 317, and receives radio signals fromthe capsule endoscope 10 e.

The antenna switching unit 311 switches the antenna that receives radiosignals from the capsule endoscope 10e to one of any receiving antennasA1 to An. The antenna switching unit 311 is connected to the receivingantennas A1 to An via cables. The radio signals, received from thecapsule endoscope 10 e via the receiving antenna that is selected by theswitching unit 311 among from the receiving antennas A1 to An, areoutput to the demodulator 317. Furthermore, the antenna switching unit311 outputs the radio signals, received from each of the receivingantennas A1 to An, to the intensity detector 313.

The intensity detector 313 detects the receiving intensity of the radiosignals received from the capsule endoscope 10 e via the switching unit311, and outputs the detected receiving intensity to the antennaswitching controller 315.

The antenna switching controller 315 selects the most suitable receivingantenna, for receiving the radio signals from the capsule endoscope 10e, among from the receiving antennas A1 to An. Specifically, the antennaswitching controller 315 selects, among from the receiving antennas A1to An, the receiving antenna which indicates the maximum receivingintensity of the radio signals received from the capsule endoscope 10 e.The antenna switching controller 315 controls the switching operation ofthe antenna switching unit 311 so that the antenna switching unit 311switches to the selected receiving antenna.

The demodulator 317 conducts the demodulating processing to the radiosignals received from the capsule endoscope 10 e via the antennaswitching unit 311, and demodulates to the image signals. The imagesignals correspond to the transmitting signals generated in the capsuleendoscope 10 e. For example, the image signals include, the imageinformation taken with the capsule endoscope 10 e, the verticalsynchronization signals that are included in each frame, the horizontalsynchronization signals that are included in each line of the frame, theimaging unit identifying information, and the illuminating stateidentifying information.

The demodulator 317 outputs the demodulated image signals to thesynchronization detector 320 and identifying information detector 330.

The synchronization detector 320 detects, for each frame, the verticalsynchronization signals that are included in the image signaldemodulated with the demodulator 317.

The identifying information detector 330 determines the illuminatingstate identifying information that is included in the image informationdemodulated with the demodulator 317, and identifies the imageinformation acquired in the non-illuminating state. The identifyinginformation detector 330 determines the imaging unit identifyinginformation and identifies the imaging unit that has acquired the imageinformation.

The image extractor 340 extracts the image information from the imagesignals input via the synchronization detector 320. The image extractor340 outputs the extracted image information to the black imagecompensating unit 380, if the image information is the in-vivo imageinformation acquired in the illuminating state. Meanwhile, the imageextractor 340 conducts a processing based on the result of thedetermination input from the black image determining unit 360 which willbe explained later, if the image information is the image informationacquired in the non-illuminating state. Specifically, if the imageinformation is the black image, the image extractor 340 outputs theimage information to a front black image storage unit 371 or a rearblack image storage unit 373, which are constituted by the frame memoryand the like. In other words, if the imaging unit that has acquired theimage information is the front imaging unit 110-1, the front black imagestorage unit 371 is rewritten. If the imaging unit that has acquired theimage information is the rear imaging unit 110-2, the rear black imagestorage unit 373 is rewritten.

The black image pixel averaging unit 350 regards the whole area of theimage information, which is identified to be acquired in thenon-illuminating state by the identifying information detector 330, asdetermining area, and calculates the average value of the pixel value.For example, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the black imagepixel averaging unit 350 integrates each of the pixel value, divides theresult of the integration by the number of pixels, and calculates thesimple average value of each pixel. The calculated average value isoutput to the black image determining unit 360.

The black image determining unit 360 compares the average value inputfrom the black image pixel averaging unit 350 with the black imagestandard value that is predetermined as the threshold value, as a resultof the comparison, if the input average value is equal to the blackimage standard value or less, the black image determining unit 360determines the image information is the black image. The result of thedetermination is output to the image extractor 340 via the control unit410.

The black image compensating unit 380 conducts the image compensation byeliminating the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image informationbased on the black image information. Specifically, the black imagecompensating unit 380 subtracts the black image information stored inthe front black image storage unit 371 from the in-vivo imageinformation, if the in-vivo image information is acquired with the frontimaging unit 110-1. In the above mentioned manner, the black imagecompensating unit 380 eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivoimage information. Meanwhile, if the in-vivo image information isacquired with the rear imaging unit 110-2, the black image compensatingunit 380 eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo imageinformation by subtracting the black image information stored in thefront black image storage unit 373 from the in-vivo image information.

The signal processing unit 390 processes the in-vivo image informationcompensated with the black image compensating unit 380 to the image dataof a desired format, and outputs the image data to a read/write unit400.

The portable recording medium 50 is detachably attached to theread/write unit 400. The read/write unit 400 sequentially stores thein-vivo image information processed with the signal processing unit 390in the portable recording medium 50. The read/write unit 400 is realizedby the read/write unit that corresponds to the type of the portablerecording medium 50.

In the receiving apparatus 30 e, configured in the aforementionedmanner, the image extractor 340 extracts the image information from theimage signal, which is received with one of any receiving antennas A1 toAn and demodulated in the receiving unit 310. The image extractor 340outputs the image information to the black image compensating unit 380,if the image information is the in-vivo image information acquired inthe illuminating state. The identifying information detector 330identifies the image information acquired in the non-illuminating state.The black image pixel averaging unit 350 calculates the average value ofthe pixel value of the image information which is identified as acquiredin the non-illuminating state, and the black image determining unit 360determines whether the image information is the black image or not. Theimage information which is determined as the black image is stored, asthe black image information, in either the front black image storageunit 371 or the rear black image storage unit 373 depending on theimaging unit that has acquired the black image. The black imagecompensating unit 380 eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivoimage taken with the front imaging unit 110-1 among the in-vivo imageinformation acquired in the illuminating state, based on the black imageinformation stored in the front black image storage unit 371, andconducts the image compensation. The black image compensating unit 380eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image taken with therear imaging unit 110-2 among the in-vivo image information acquired inthe illuminating state, based on the black image information stored inthe rear black image storage unit 373, and conducts the imagecompensation. The compensated in-vivo image information is sequentiallystored in the portable recording medium 50 with the read/write unit 400.

The in-vivo image information stored in the portable recording medium 50is read in the displaying apparatus 70 and the image is displayed on thedisplaying apparatus 70.

According to the third embodiment explained above, the receivingapparatus 30 e can determine whether the image information is the blackimage or not, by calculating the average value of the pixel value of theimage information acquired in the non-illuminating state with thecapsule endoscope 10 e. Therefore the receiving apparatus 30 e cansecurely obtain the black image which is necessary for eliminating thefixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information. The receivingapparatus 30 e can appropriately eliminate the fixed pattern noises inthe in-vivo image information acquired in the illuminating state withthe capsule endoscope 10 e and conduct appropriate image compensationtoward the in-vivo image information.

A fourth embodiment will be explained next. The fourth embodiment is anembodiment in which the processes related to the black imagedetermination is conducted with the receiving apparatus. The samereferential marks are put to the similar configuration as the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a receiving apparatus 30 faccording to the fourth embodiment. The receiving apparatus 30 freceives the transmitting signals generated from the capsule endoscope10 e configured as illustrated in FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 9, thereceiving apparatus 30 f includes, the receiving apparatus 310, thesynchronization detector 320, the identifying information detector 330,an image extractor 340 f, a pixel defect compensating unit 420, a peakdetector 430, a black image determining unit 360 f, a black imagecompensating unit 380 f, the signal processing unit 390, the read/writeunit 400, and the control unit 410.

The pixel defect compensating unit 420 detects the pixel defects of theimage information extracted with the image extractor 340 f, andcompensates the pixels having the pixel defects. The compensated imageinformation is output to the peak detector 430 and the black imagecompensating unit 380 f.

The peak detector 430 regards, the whole area that is identified asacquired in the non-illuminating state by the identifying informationdetector 330, as the determining area, and detects the peak value of thepixel value of each pixel that constitutes image information. Thedetected peak value is output to the black image determining unit 360 f.

The black image determining unit 360 f compares the peak value inputfrom the peak detector 430 with a black image standard peak value whichis predetermined as a threshold value, and as a result of thecomparison, if the input peak value is equal to the black image standardpeak value or less, the black image determining unit 360 f determinesthe image information is the black image. The result of thedetermination is output to the image extractor 340 f via the controlunit 410.

In the receiving apparatus 30 f, configured in the aforementionedmanner, the image extractor 340 f extracts the image information fromthe image signal, which is received with one of any receiving antennasA1 to An and demodulated in the receiving unit 310. The image extractor340 f outputs the image information to the black image compensating unit380 f, if the image information is the in-vivo image informationacquired in the illuminating state. The identifying information detector330 identifies the image information acquired in the non-illuminatingstate. The peak detector 430 detects the peak value of the pixel valueof each pixel that constitutes the image information identified asacquired in the non-illuminating state, and the black image determiningunit 360 f determines whether the image information is the black imageinformation or not. The image information determined here, as the blackimage, is stored as the black image information in either the frontblack image storage unit 371 or the rear black image storage unit 373,depending on the imaging unit that has acquired the black image.

The black image compensating unit 380 f eliminates the fixed patternnoises in the in-vivo image taken with the front imaging unit 110-1,among the in-vivo image information acquired in the illuminating state,based on the black image information stored in the front black imagestorage unit 371, and conducts the image compensation. The black imagecompensating unit 380 f eliminates the fixed pattern noises in thein-vivo image taken with the rear imaging unit 110-2 among the in-vivoimage information acquired in the illuminating state, based on the blackimage information stored in the rear black image storage unit 373, andconducts the image compensation. The compensated in-vivo imageinformation is sequentially stored in the portable recording medium 50with the read/write unit 400.

The in-vivo image information stored in the portable recording medium 50is read in the displaying apparatus 70 and the image is displayed on thedisplaying apparatus 70.

According to the fourth embodiment explained above, the receivingapparatus 30 f can determine whether the image information is the blackimage or not, by calculating the average value of the pixel value of theimage information acquired in the non-illuminating state with thecapsule endoscope 10 e. Therefore the receiving apparatus 30 f cansecurely obtain the black image which is necessary for eliminating thefixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information. The receivingapparatus 30 f can appropriately eliminate the fixed pattern noises inthe in-vivo image information acquired in the illuminating state withthe capsule endoscope 10 e and conduct appropriate image compensationtoward the in-vivo image information.

A fifth embodiment will be explained next. The fifth embodiment is anembodiment, in which the processes related to the determination of theblack image and the image compensation, which depends on the result ofthe determination is conducted with the displaying apparatus.

According to the fifth embodiment, the capsule endoscope is configuredin the same manner as the capsule endoscope 10 e as explained byillustrating in FIG. 7 in the third embodiment; capsule endoscope 10 eis capable of acquiring the in-vivo image information of both the frontand rear with respect to the travelling direction of the capsuleendoscope 10 e. The receiving apparatus receives, from the capsuleendoscope, the image information which is transmitted by radio togetherwith the imaging unit identifying information, the illuminating stateidentifying information, and the adding information, and the receivingapparatus sequentially stores the image information in the portablerecording medium 50.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a displaying apparatus 70 gaccording to the fifth embodiment. The same referential marks are put tothe similar configuration as the third embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the displaying apparatus 70 g includes, a read/write unit 710,an identifying information detector 720, an image extractor 730, a blackimage pixel value averaging unit 740, a black image determining unit750, a black image compensating unit 770, a signal processing unit 780,a control unit 790, a displaying unit 800, an inputting unit 810, and astorage unit 820. The read/write unit 710 writes data into the portablerecording medium 50. The control unit 790 controls the overalloperations of the displaying apparatus 70 g as a whole.

The displaying unit 800 displays the image of the in-vivo image acquiredby the capsule endoscope 10 e. The inputting unit 810 is a unit, forconducting a designating operation to designate the in-vivo image to bedisplayed on the displaying unit 800, and for conducting an inputtingoperation to input the information concerning the subject 1. The storageunit 820 stores various kinds of data needed for the operation of thedisplaying apparatus 70 g.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the displayingapparatus 70 g according to the fifth embodiment. As illustrated in FIG.11, first, the read/write unit 710 reads out, from the portablerecording medium 50 which is attached to the read/write unit 710, theimage information that is stored together with the imaging unitidentifying information, the illuminating state identifying information,and the adding information (step S101). Subsequently, the identifyinginformation detector 720 detects the imaging unit identifyinginformation, and the illuminating state identifying information (stepS103). By these steps, the imaging unit that has acquired the read outimage information is identified, and whether the read out imageinformation is the image information acquired in the non-illuminatingstate or in the illuminating state is identified. The image extractor730 extracts the image information (step S105). If the extracted imageinformation is the in-vivo image information acquired in theilluminating state, the extracted image information is output to theblack image compensating unit 770.

Subsequently, the illuminating state identifying information detected inthe step S105 is examined (step S107), the displaying apparatus 70 gconducts the operation which depends on whether the image information istaken in the illuminating state or non-illuminating state. Specifically,in the case of the image information acquired in the non-illuminatingstate, first, the black image pixel value averaging unit 740 calculatesthe average value of the pixel value of the image information (stepS108). For example, the black image pixel value averaging unit 740regards the whole area of the acquired image information as thedetermining area, integrates the pixel value of each pixel thatconstitutes the image information, divides the result of the integrationby the number of pixels, and calculates the simple average value of eachpixel. Subsequently, the black image determining unit 750 determineswhether the image information is the black image or not (step S109). Ifthe image information is determined to be the black image (step S111:Yes), the image information is, depending on the imaging unit that hasacquire the image information, output to the front imaging unit 110-1 orstored in a rear black image storage unit 763 (step S113). Specifically,if the imaging unit that has acquired the image information is the frontimaging unit 110-1, the image information is output to a front blackimage storing unit 761 and stored there, and if the imaging unit thathas acquired the image information is the rear imaging unit 110-2, theimage information is output to the rear black image storage unit 763 andstored there.

Meanwhile, in the case of the in-vivo image information, which isidentified to be acquired in the illuminating state, the black imagecompensating unit 770 eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivoimage information based on the black image information, and conducts theimage compensation (step S115). Specifically, if the in-vivo imageinformation is taken with the front imaging unit 110-1, the black imagecompensating unit 770 eliminates the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivoimage information based on the black image information stored in thefront black image storing unit 761, and conducts the image compensation.If the in-vivo image information is taken with the rear imaging unit110-2, the black image compensating unit 770 eliminates the fixedpattern noises in the in-vivo image information based on the black imageinformation stored in the rear black image storing unit 763, andconducts the image compensation. The displaying unit 800 displays thecompensated in-vivo image information (step S117). The displayingapparatus 70 g repeats the aforementioned steps by returning to step 101until the image display ends (step S119: No), and sequentially reads outthe information stored in the portable recording medium 50 and displaysthe image on the displaying unit 800.

According to the fifth embodiment explained above, the displayingapparatus 70 g can determine whether the image information is the blackimage or not, by calculating the average value of the pixel value of theimage information, acquired in the non-illuminating state with thecapsule endoscope 10. Therefore the displaying apparatus 70 g cansecurely obtain the black image which is necessary for eliminating thefixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information. The displayingapparatus 70 g can appropriately eliminate the fixed pattern noises inthe in-vivo image information acquired in the illuminating state withthe capsule endoscope 10 and conduct appropriate image compensationtoward the in-vivo image information.

A sixth embodiment will be explained next. The sixth embodiment is anembodiment, in which the processes related to the determination of theblack image and the image compensation are conducted with the displayingapparatus. The same referential marks are put to the similarconfiguration as the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a displaying apparatus 70 haccording to the sixth embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 12, thedisplaying apparatus 70 h includes, the read/write unit 710, an imageextractor 730 h, the identifying information detector 720, a peakdetector 830, a black image determining unit 750 h, a black imagecompensating unit 770 h, a signal processing unit 780, the control unit790, the inputting unit 810, the displaying unit 800, and the storageunit 820. The read/write unit 710 conducts read/write of the data to theportable recording medium 50.

In the displaying apparatus 70 h which is configured in theaforementioned manner, first, the read/write unit 710 reads out, fromthe portable recording medium 50, the image information stored togetherwith the imaging unit identifying information, the illuminating stateidentifying information, and the adding information. Subsequently, theidentifying information detector 720 detects the imaging unitidentifying information, and the illuminating state identifyinginformation, and the image extractor 730 h extracts the imageinformation.

Subsequently, if the image information is the image information acquiredin the non-illuminating state, the peak detector 830 detects the peakvalue of the pixel value of the image information, and the black imagedetermining unit 750 h determines whether the image information is theblack image or not. The image information that is determined to be theblack image here is stored in either the front black image storing unit761 or the rear black image storage unit 763. Meanwhile, if the imageinformation is the in-vivo image information acquired in theilluminating state, the black image compensating unit 770 h eliminatesthe fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information based on theblack image information, and conducts the image compensation. Thedisplaying unit 800 displays the image of the compensated in-vivo imageinformation. The displaying apparatus 70 h sequentially reads out theimage information stored in the portable recording medium 50 byrepeating the aforementioned operations, and displays the image on thedisplaying unit 800.

In the sixth embodiment, the peak value of the image informationextracted with the image extractor 730 h is directly detected.Alternatively, it is possible to compare the pixel value of the notablepixel with pixel values of pixels around the notable pixel, in the imageinformation detected with the image extractor 730 h. If the pixel valueof the notable pixel is largely different from that of the pixels aroundthe notable pixel, the notable pixel is regarded as defective, and it ispossible to conduct the peak value detection toward the image that isgiven a pixel defect compensating processing. In this case, a pixeldefect compensation unit that conducts the pixel defect compensatingprocessing is provided to the displaying apparatus 70 h. The pixeldefect compensating unit detects the pixel defect in the imageinformation that is extracted with the image extractor 730 h,compensates the pixels that have the pixel defect in the imageinformation, and outputs the image information to the peak detector 830.The peak detector 830 detects the peak value of the pixel value of eachpixel targeting the image information of which pixel defects arecompensated with the pixel defect compensating unit. If a pixel having alarge value such as white spot is included in the image, the pixel iscompensated with the pixel defect compensating processing; thereforeeven the image that contains the white spot can be precisely recognizedas the black image.

According to the above explained sixth embodiment, the displayingapparatus 70 h can determine whether the image information is the blackimage or not by calculating the peak value of the pixel value of eachpixel that constitutes the image information that is acquired in theilluminating state in the capsule endoscope. Therefore the displayingapparatus 70 h can securely obtain the black image that is necessary foreliminating the fixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information.Then, the displaying apparatus 70 h can eliminate the fixed patternnoises in the in-vivo image information that is acquired in theilluminating state in the capsule endoscope, and can conduct appropriateimage compensation toward the in-vivo image information.

Although, in the aforementioned first, third, and fifth embodiments, todetermine whether the image information acquired in the non-illuminatingstate with the capsule endoscope, the black image pixel averaging unitcalculates the simple average value of the pixel value of each pixelthat constitutes image information, the embodiments are not limited tothe above mentioned method.

For example, the weighted average value of the RGB value of each pixelthat constitutes the image information may be calculated. In this case,the standard luminance value is predetermined as the threshold value;the black image determining unit determines whether the imageinformation is the black image or not, by comparing the calculatedweighted average value with the black image standard luminance value.Alternatively, the average value of predetermined color component ofeach pixel that constitutes the image information may be calculated. Inthis case, any one of RGB may be adopted as the color component tocalculate the average value. In this case, the standard color componentvalue is predetermined as the threshold value, the black imagedetermining unit determines whether the image information is the blackimage or not by comparing the calculated average value with the standardcolor component value.

In the aforementioned first, third, and fifth embodiments, to determinewhether the image information acquired in the non-illuminating statewith the capsule endoscope, the black image pixel averaging unit is madeto calculate the average value of the pixel value by regarding the wholearea of the image information as the determining area. Alternatively,the determining area may be predetermined, and out of the targeted imageinformation, the average value of the pixel value included in thepredetermined determining area may be calculated.

In the aforementioned second, fourth, and sixth embodiments, todetermine whether the image information acquired in the non-illuminatingstate with the capsule endoscope, the peak detector is made to detectthe peak value of the pixel value of each pixel regarding the whole areaof the image information as the determining area. Alternatively, thedetermining area may be predetermined, and out of the targeted imageinformation, the peak value of the pixel value of each pixel thatconstitutes determining area may be detected.

Although, in the first and second embodiments, the image information isacquired in the non-illuminating state by conducting the black imageacquiring operation at a predetermined time interval (10 minutes), thetiming of acquiring the black image acquiring operation is not limitedto this.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary variation for explaining timings of the in-vivoimage information acquiring operation and black image acquiringoperation.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the imaging operation by theimaging unit is conducted at a predetermined interval (0.5 second) inthe same manner as the aforementioned first and second embodiments.After the power source to the capsule endoscope is turned on, until apredetermined time passes the black image acquiring operation isconducted. In this case a timer is provided to the capsule endoscope.The timer, for example, starts up when the power is turned on, andcounts the elapse time until the black image acquiring time elapses, bycounting the elapse time from the start up.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the capsuleendoscope according to an exemplary variation. As illustrated in FIG.14, according to the present exemplary variation, upon the power isturned on, at first the timer is activated and the timer starts countingthe black image acquiring time (step S203). The capsule endoscopecalculates the average value of the pixel value of the imageinformation, acquired in the non-illuminating state, by the startedblack image acquiring operation (step S205), and determines whether theimage information is the black image or not by comparing the calculatedaverage value with the predetermined standard average value (step S207).If the image information is determined not to be the black image (stepS209: No), the aforementioned operation is repeated by returning to thestep S205. Meanwhile, if the image information is determined to be theblack image (step S209: Yes), the image information is transmitted tooutside the body by radio (step S211). When the lapse time counted bythe timer reaches the black image acquiring time (step S213: Yes), thecapsule endoscope starts the in-vivo image acquiring operation (stepS215). The present operation is an operation on the assumption that thecapsule endoscope is taken into the body of the subject 1 immediatelyafter the power is turned on, the image information of the black imagecan be acquired and transmitted to the receiving apparatus 30 prior tothe start of the in-vivo image acquiring operation.

Alternatively, the image information may be acquired in thenon-illuminating state by conducting a predetermined times of the blackimage acquiring operations (for example 20 times) after the power of thecapsule endoscope is turned on. Alternatively, the black image may beacquired in a state the caps are attached to the optical windows of thecapsule endoscope. FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a cap 80. FIG. 16 is aschematic view when the caps 80 illustrated in FIG. 15 are attached tothe capsule endoscope 10 i. The capsule endoscope 10 i is configured inthe same manner as the capsule endoscope 10 e illustrated in FIG. 7 inthe third embodiment. The capsule endoscope 10 i is capable of acquiringthe in-vivo image information of both the front and rear imageinformation with respect to the travelling direction of the capsuleendoscope 10 i, and the top covers that function as the optical windowsat both ends of the capsule endoscope 10 i are covered and lightshielded with the caps 80.

In this case, for example, the black image may be acquired by conductingthe black image acquiring operation in the non-illuminating state,during the time after the power of the capsule endoscope is turned onuntil a predetermined time elapses. Alternatively, the black image maybe acquired by conducting the black image acquiring operations forpredetermined times in the non-illuminating state, after the power ofthe capsule endoscope is turned on.

Alternatively, the capsule endoscope may be configured to detect theremoval of the caps 80, upon detection of the removal of the caps 80 thein-vivo image acquiring operation may be started. In this case, thecapsule endoscope 10 is provided with a function that determines whetherthe caps 80 are removed or not. For example, the capsule endoscopedetermines whether the caps 80 are removed or not by determining thebrightness of the image information based on the average valuecalculated by the black image pixel value averaging unit 137 accordingto the first embodiment. Specifically, the threshold value (standardaverage value) that determines whether the image information is theblack image, and another threshold value that determines whether thecaps 80 are removed are predetermined. The black image determining unitdetermines whether the acquired image information is the black image ornot by comparing the aforementioned threshold values with the calculatedaverage value, and determines whether the caps 80 are removed.Alternatively, the black image determining unit determines whether thecaps 80 are removed by determining the brightness of the acquired imageinformation based on the average value calculated by the peak detector147 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the capsuleendoscope according to an exemplary variation. As illustrated in FIG.17, the capsule endoscope of the exemplary variation starts the blackimage acquiring operation upon the power is turned on (step S301). Thecapsule endoscope calculates the average value of the pixel value of theimage information, acquired in the non-illuminating state by the startedblack image acquiring operation, and determines whether the imageinformation is the black image or not based on the calculated averagevalue (step S303). If the image information is determined not to be theblack image (step S305: No), returns to step S303 and repeats theaforementioned operations. In the meantime, if the image information isdetermined to be the black image (step 305: Yes), the capsule endoscopetransmits the image information to outside the body by radio (stepS307).

In step S307, after transmitting the image information of the blackimage by radio, the capsule endoscope calculates the average value ofthe pixel value of the image information that is sequentially acquiredin the non-illuminating state, and determines whether the caps 80 areremoved based on the calculated average value (step S308). In this case,whether the caps 80 are removed or not may be determined, on conditionthat the image information of which calculated average value is equal toor over the threshold value, which is used to determine whether the caps80 are removed or not are acquired continuously for several times. If itis determined the caps 80 are not removed (step S309: No),aforementioned operation is repeated by returning to step 308, meanwhileif the capsule endoscope determines the caps 80 are removed (step S309:Yes), the capsule endoscope starts the in-vivo image acquiring operation(step S311). According to the present exemplary variation, it ispossible to previously acquire, during the time between the power isturned on and the caps 80 are removed, the image information of theblack image and transmit it to the receiving apparatus 30.

The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus, in-vivo image receivingapparatus, in-vivo image displaying apparatus, and noise eliminatingmethod of the present embodiments can calculate the average value of thepixel value of the image information acquired in the non-illuminatingstate. According to the present embodiments it is possible to determinewhether the image information is the black image or not by comparing theacquired average value with the predetermined threshold value.Alternatively, it is possible to determine whether the image informationis the black image or not, by detecting the peak value of the pixelvalue of each pixel that constitutes the image information acquired inthe non-illuminating state, and by comparing the acquired peak valuewith the predetermined threshold value. Therefore it is possible tosecurely acquire the black image which is necessary to eliminate thefixed pattern noises in the in-vivo image information. According to theembodiments, based on the image information determined to be the blackimage, it is possible to appropriately eliminate the fixed patternnoises in the image information acquired in the illuminating state, andconduct appropriate image compensation toward the image information.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus to be taken into a body of asubject, comprising: an imaging unit that acquires in-vivo imageinformation; an illuminating unit that illuminates imaging regions ofwhich images are taken by the imaging unit; a radio transmitting unitthat transmits the image information acquired by the imaging unit to anexternal apparatus by radio; an operation control unit that controlsoperations of the imaging unit and the illuminating unit so as tocontrol a black image acquiring operation in which the imaging unitconducts an imaging operation with the illuminating unit not conductingan illuminating operation; an average value calculating unit thatcalculates an average value of pixel values of a predetermineddetermining area among the image information acquired by the black imageacquiring operation; and a black image determining unit that determineswhether the image information acquired by the black image acquiringoperation indicates a black image by comparing the average valuecalculated by the average value calculating unit with a predeterminedthreshold value, wherein the radio transmitting unit transmits to theexternal apparatus by radio the image information which is determined bythe black image determining unit as the black image, as black imageinformation.
 2. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus according to claim1, wherein the average value calculating unit calculates the averagevalue of pixel values by regarding a whole area of the acquired imageinformation as the determining area.
 3. The in-vivo image acquiringapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a dimmer controllerthat controls an amount of illuminating light emitted by theilluminating unit depending on a brightness of a predetermined dimmingarea based on the image information acquired by the imaging unit whereinthe average value calculating unit calculates the average value of pixelvalues which are included in the dimming area by regarding the dimmingarea as the determining area.
 4. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the average value calculating unitcalculates a simple average value of pixel values of pixels thatconstitute the determining area based on the image information acquiredby the black image acquiring operation.
 5. The in-vivo image acquiringapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the average value calculatingunit calculates a weighted average value of RGB values of pixels thatconstitute the determining area based on the image information acquiredby the black image acquiring operation.
 6. The in-vivo image acquiringapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the average value calculatingunit calculates a average value of predetermined color components ofpixels that constitute the determining area based on the imageinformation acquired by the black image acquiring operation.
 7. Anin-vivo image acquiring apparatus to be taken into a body of a subject,comprising: an imaging unit that acquires in-vivo image information; anilluminating unit that illuminates imaging regions of which images aretaken by the imaging unit; a radio transmitting unit that transmits theimage information acquired by the imaging unit to an external apparatusby radio; an operation control unit that controls operations of theimaging unit and the illuminating unit so as to control a black imageacquiring operation in which the imaging unit conducts an imagingoperation with the illuminating unit not conducting an illuminatingoperation; a peak detector that detects a peak value of pixel values ofpixels that constitute a predetermined determining area among the imageinformation acquired by the black image acquiring operation; and a blackimage determining unit that determines whether the image informationacquired by the black image acquiring operation indicates a black imageby comparing the peak value detected by the peak detector with apredetermined threshold value, wherein the radio transmitting unittransmits to the external apparatus by radio the image information whichis determined by the black image determining unit as the black image, asblack image information.
 8. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatusaccording to claim 7, further comprising: a pixel defect compensatingunit that detects and compensates a pixel defect in the imageinformation acquired by the imaging unit, wherein the peak detectordetects the peak value based on the image information compensated by thepixel defect compensating unit.
 9. An in-vivo image receiving apparatusfor receiving in-vivo image information from an in-vivo image acquiringapparatus which is taken into a body of a subject and which acquires thein-vivo image information in an illuminating state or in anon-illuminating state, the in-vivo image receiving apparatuscomprising: an average value calculating unit that calculates an averagevalue of pixel values of a predetermined determining area among theimage information acquired in the non-illuminating state by the in-vivoimage acquiring apparatus; a black image determining unit thatdetermines whether the image information acquired in thenon-illuminating state by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatusindicates a black image by comparing the average value calculated by theaverage value calculating unit with a predetermined threshold value; ablack image storage unit that stores as black image information theimage information determined as the black image by the black imagedetermining unit; and a black image compensating unit that, based on theblack image information stored in the black image storage unit,eliminates fixed pattern noises in the image information acquired in theilluminating state by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus, andcompensates the image information.
 10. The in-vivo image receivingapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the average value calculatingunit calculates the average value of pixel values by regarding a wholearea of the image information acquired in the no-illuminating state asthe determining area.
 11. The in-vivo image receiving apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the average value calculating unitcalculates a simple average value of pixel values of pixels thatconstitute the determining area based on the image information acquiredin the non-illuminating state.
 12. The in-vivo image receiving apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the average value calculating unitcalculates a weighted average value of RGB values of pixels thatconstitute the determining area based on the image information acquiredin the non-illuminating state.
 13. The in-vivo image receiving apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the average value calculating unitcalculates a average value of predetermined color components of pixelsthat constitute the determining area based on the image informationacquired in the non-illuminating state.
 14. An in-vivo image receivingapparatus for receiving in-vivo image information from an in-vivo imageacquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of a subject and whichacquires the in-vivo image information in an illuminating state or in anon-illuminating state, the in-vivo image receiving apparatuscomprising: a peak detector that detects a peak value of pixel values ofpixels that constitute a predetermined determining area among the imageinformation acquired in the non-illuminating state of the in-vivo imageacquiring apparatus; a black image determining unit that determineswhether the image information acquired in a non-illuminating state isthe black image by comparing the peak value detected by the peakdetector with a predetermined threshold value; a black image storageunit that stores as black image information the image informationdetermined as the black image by the black image determining unit; andan image compensating unit that, based on the black image informationstored in the black image storage unit, eliminates fixed pattern noisesin the image information acquired in the illuminating state by thein-vivo image acquiring apparatus, and compensates the imageinformation.
 15. The in-vivo image receiving apparatus according toclaim 14, further comprising: a pixel defect compensating unit thatdetects and compensates a pixel defect in the image information acquiredin an illuminating state or a non-illuminating state, wherein the peakdetector detects the peak value based on the image informationcompensated with the pixel defect compensating unit.
 16. An in-vivoimage displaying apparatus for displaying image information acquired byan in-vivo image acquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of asubject and acquires in-vivo image information in an illuminating stateor in a non-illuminating state, the in-vivo image displaying apparatuscomprising: a black image pixel value averaging unit that calculates anaverage value of pixel values of a predetermined determining area amongthe image information acquired in a non-illuminating state by thein-vivo image acquiring apparatus; a black image determining unit thatdetermines whether the image information acquired in thenon-illuminating state indicates a black image by comparing the averagevalue calculated by the black image pixel value averaging unit with apredetermined threshold value; a black image storage unit that stores asblack image information the image information determined as the blackimage by the black image determining unit; and an image compensatingunit that, based on the black image information stored in the blackimage storage unit, eliminates fixed pattern noises in the imageinformation acquired in the illuminating state by the in-vivo imageacquiring apparatus, and compensates the image information.
 17. Thein-vivo image displaying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein theaverage value calculating unit calculates the average value of pixelvalues by regarding a whole area of the acquired image information asthe determining area.
 18. The in-vivo image displaying apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the average value calculating unitcalculates a simple average value of pixel values of pixels thatconstitute the determining area based on the image information acquiredin the non-illuminating state.
 19. The in-vivo image displayingapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the average value calculatingunit calculates a weighted average value of RGB values of pixels thatconstitute the determining area based on the image information acquiredin the non-illuminating state.
 20. The in-vivo image displayingapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the average value calculatingunit calculates a average value of predetermined color components ofpixels that constitute the determining area based on the imageinformation acquired in the non-illuminating state.
 21. An in-vivo imagedisplaying apparatus for displaying image information acquired by anin-vivo image acquiring apparatus which is taken into a body of asubject and acquires in-vivo image information in an illuminating stateor in a non-illuminating state, the in-vivo image displaying apparatuscomprising: a peak detector that detects a peak value of pixel values ofpixels that constitute a predetermined determining area among the imageinformation acquired by the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus in anon-illuminating state; a black image determining unit that determineswhether the image information acquired in the non-illuminating stateindicates a black image by comparing the peak value detected by the peakdetector with a predetermined threshold value; a black image storageunit that stores as black image information the image informationdetermined as the black image by the black image determining unit; and ablack image compensating unit that, based on the black image informationstored in the black image storage unit, eliminates fixed pattern noisesin the image information acquired in the illuminating state with thein-vivo image acquiring apparatus, and compensates the imageinformation.
 22. The in-vivo image displaying apparatus according toclaim 21, further comprising: a pixel defect compensating unit thatdetects and compensates a pixel defect in the image information acquiredby the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus in an illuminating state or anon-illuminating state, wherein the peak detector detects the peak valuebased on the image information compensated by the pixel defectcompensating unit.
 23. A noise eliminating method for eliminating fixedpattern noises in in-vivo image information, the method comprising:acquiring the in-vivo image information in a non-illuminating state;calculating an average value of a predetermined determining area amongthe image information acquired in the non-illuminating state;determining whether the image information acquired in thenon-illuminating state indicates a black image by comparing thecalculated average value with a predetermined threshold value; acquiringthe in-vivo image information in an illuminating state; and eliminatingthe fixed pattern noises in the image information acquired in theilluminating state and compensating the image information based on theimage information determined as the black image.
 24. A noise eliminatingmethod for eliminating fixed pattern noises in in-vivo imageinformation, the method comprising: acquiring the in-vivo imageinformation in a non-illuminating state; detecting a peak value of pixelvalues of pixels that constitute a predetermined determining area amongthe image information acquired in a non-illuminating sate; determiningwhether the image information acquired in the non-illuminating stateindicates a black image by comparing the detected peak value with apredetermined threshold value; acquiring the in-vivo image informationin an illuminating state; and eliminating the fixed pattern noises inthe image information acquired in the illuminating state andcompensating the image information based on the image informationdetermined as the black image.